Khamzat Chimaev's brother, Artur Chimaev, explained why the Chechen fighter lost his bout against Sean Strickland at UFC 328. He stated that the main issue was related to the difficult weight-cutting process before the fight.
Artur Chimaev noted that when Khamzat needed to cut the final 1.2 kilograms to reach the weight limit, his body could not handle it. As a result, the team was given a few hours' break because the athlete's health was in serious danger.
“When there were 1.2 kg left to reach the limit, the body couldn't take it. We were given a break for a few hours because his health wouldn't allow it. But in the end, we still made the weight,” said Artur.
According to him, the body was extremely exhausted during the weight cut, and this condition affected his performance during the fight. It was especially noticeable in the second round that Chimaev had not fully recovered.
“During the fight — in the second round — it was clear that his body hadn't recovered,” he added.
Artur Chimaev said he understands why many are asking, “Why was the decision made to cut so much weight in such a short time?” He explained that according to the initial agreement with the UFC, Khamzat Chimaev was supposed to enter the octagon against Jiri Prochazka at 93 kg.
However, they later called Chimaev and offered him the fight against Sean Strickland. Khamzat did not refuse the challenge and agreed to the bout. As a result, he had to drop from 105 kilograms to 84 kilograms.
This is a huge burden. Cutting more than 20 kilograms in a short time is a serious test for any fighter's body. In such a process, strength, endurance, reaction, and recovery levels can drop significantly.
Artur said that during the weight cut, Khamzat almost lost consciousness and was deprived of oxygen. Even after the weigh-in ceremony, the athlete was only able to regain 5-6 kilograms. This was not enough for the body to fully recover by fight day.
“Honestly, during the weight cut, Khamzat almost passed out. He lacked oxygen. Even after the weigh-in, Khamzat only managed to gain 5-6 kilograms,” said Artur Chimaev.
Fans noticed that Chimaev's usual pressure and physical dominance were not fully visible in the fight against Sean Strickland. According to Artur's comments, this was due to the body failing to recover after the brutal weight cut, rather than technical or tactical factors.
This situation once again showed how dangerous and decisive weight cutting can be in MMA. A fight in the octagon is not just about striking, wrestling, and tactics. Sometimes a fighter loses their main strength even before the bout begins — during the weigh-in process.
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